2008 Woodie Awards
Chasing History...
Quarterback Sean Schaefer's quiet, humble assault on the record book
Kiel McLaughlin
Special | 9/4/08
Sweat dripped off the tips of his newly grown shag, down his brow and onto his disappointed face during last Saturday's post-game press conference. Sean Schaefer's expression following the Tigers' 41-13 loss to Navy was that usually reserved for occasions of spilling milk or following the death of a pet.
You would never have imagined he had just thrown for 330 yards and two touchdowns, bringing him within striking distance of breaking Dan Crowley's school and state passing yardage record this week against Morgan State.
The only two statistics on his mind were the one interception he threw on the team's first drive and the single tally now in the team's loss column.
It wasn't Schaefer's fault that Navy's Shun White dashed for 349 yards. There was nothing he could do except watch as the speedy running back ran away from Towson's linebackers and defensive backs.
But nonetheless, Schaefer took it on himself.
"Delaware had to put up 59 points to beat [Navy last year]. We didn't score enough. In fact, we didn't score at all in the second half," he said.
Schaefer's willingness to take blame for his team's shortcomings has made him a leader in the locker room. His teammates want to protect him, get open for his passes and go into battle with him. His willingness to accept responsibility has earned him more respect than any of thousands of passing yards or dozens of tosses into the end zone.
This week, Schaefer returns home to familiar surroundings, the more humble confines of Johnny Unitas Stadium, instead of the 30,000 fans and pageantry of Navy Marine Corps Stadium. And he will be facing a familiar foe, the Morgan State Bears from just down Cold Spring Lane; instead of the first Division I FBS program the team has faced in program history.
Schaefer's first career start was against Morgan State in fall 2005. As a redshirt freshman, the quiet kid from Southern Maryland with a powerful, accurate arm stepped onto the green carpet of Minnegan Field. He turned the ball over six times, leaving the Tigers' offense stagnant for the first three quarters of the game.
You would never have imagined he had just thrown for 330 yards and two touchdowns, bringing him within striking distance of breaking Dan Crowley's school and state passing yardage record this week against Morgan State.
The only two statistics on his mind were the one interception he threw on the team's first drive and the single tally now in the team's loss column.
It wasn't Schaefer's fault that Navy's Shun White dashed for 349 yards. There was nothing he could do except watch as the speedy running back ran away from Towson's linebackers and defensive backs.
But nonetheless, Schaefer took it on himself.
"Delaware had to put up 59 points to beat [Navy last year]. We didn't score enough. In fact, we didn't score at all in the second half," he said.
Schaefer's willingness to take blame for his team's shortcomings has made him a leader in the locker room. His teammates want to protect him, get open for his passes and go into battle with him. His willingness to accept responsibility has earned him more respect than any of thousands of passing yards or dozens of tosses into the end zone.
This week, Schaefer returns home to familiar surroundings, the more humble confines of Johnny Unitas Stadium, instead of the 30,000 fans and pageantry of Navy Marine Corps Stadium. And he will be facing a familiar foe, the Morgan State Bears from just down Cold Spring Lane; instead of the first Division I FBS program the team has faced in program history.
Schaefer's first career start was against Morgan State in fall 2005. As a redshirt freshman, the quiet kid from Southern Maryland with a powerful, accurate arm stepped onto the green carpet of Minnegan Field. He turned the ball over six times, leaving the Tigers' offense stagnant for the first three quarters of the game.
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